It is arguably impossible to mention the top ten most successful and well-known American actors without mentioning Sylvester Stallone, the actor known for the iconic Rambo and Rocky films. He has been a member of Hollywood for four decades, appearing in over 80 movies and TV shows. With that, Sylvester Stallone has achieved a net worth of $400 million, placing him among the richest personalities in Hollywood.

While appearing in many movies and TV shows is expected to earn you some considerable income, not all of his peers with a similar filmography can boast of the same level of net worth. Check out the details of the actor’s wealth and how he accumulated it over the years.

How Sylvester Stallone Built His Net Worth

Before Sylvester Stallone became a mega-millionaire and one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, he was a struggling actor who had a childhood that leaves much to be desired.

A surgery that went wrong during his birth caused a permanent paralysis in parts of Stallone’s face, giving him a snarling look and slurred speech. For someone who had an interest in acting, an industry that places a premium on looks and speech, it proved to be quite a challenge especially at the early stage of his career.

Despite completing his education in the late 50s and subsequently beginning his career, he did not star in a significant role until 1970, when he got a starring role in the softcore porno film, The Party at Kitty and Stud’s. He earned $200 for his role, his first major pay as an actor. Before securing the role, he slept at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City for three weeks because he could no longer afford rent.

His exploration of erotica as an actor and a means of financial survival continued with Score, an off-Broadway play he appeared in between October and November 1971. He soon began to get minor roles in films like Bananas, No Place to Hide, and The Lords of Flatbush but none was able to establish him as a star until he decided to write and star in his breakout film, Rocky. Despite a rocky production journey, the film was released to critical and commercial success, earning $117 million at the box office.

With the success of the film came Sylvester Stallone’s transformation into a movie star and the increase in his financial status. He made a franchise out of the film, with all six-parts of the Rocky franchise earning just over a billion dollars at the box office. Aside from this franchise, the actor is also known for his role as John Rambo in the Rambo franchise which has grossed over $700 million at the box office.

In addition to his earnings from the Rocky franchise, which was over $30 million at the release of Rocky V, he has appeared in 60 movies and TV shows, with the movies racking in over $6 billion at the global box office. Over $3.8 billion of that amount was generated when he starred as a leading actor with a further $1.3 billion coming when he played a supporting role.

Proving to be a very bankable actor, Sylvester Stallone has been able to build his $400 million net worth from commanding high salaries for films like $12 million for Over the Top, $15 million for Assassins, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man, and Oscar and Rocky V. Records have it that he was paid $17.5 million for Daylight, $20 million for Driven, D-Tox, and $35 million for Escape Plan.

How Else Does He Make His Money?

Disregarding the foregoing, the man has been able to make more income through back end deals for movies like Cop Land, which fetched him $60 million and The Expendables series.

The actor owns a production company called Balboa Productions, which has also contributed to Sylvester Stallone’s net worth. Through the production outlet, he has been able to bag several credits as a screenwriter and as a producer. As such, he has received a percentage of the revenue from films like Creed II, Rambo V: Last Blood, and others.

That’s not all, Stallone also bags good money from real estate and legal awards. Through real estate, he has made millions of dollars from deals ranging from the sale of his Miami Villa for $24 million to his Beverly Hills mansion which he sold for $16.2 million. He also earned $17 million for damages from a lawsuit in 2002.